February 15 2023 Regular Board Meeting Minutes
I. Regular Meeting
Chairman James Cloar called the regular meeting of the Tampa Housing Authority Board of Commissioners to order at 8:37 a.m. Other Board members present were Bemetra Salter Liggins, Ben Dachepalli, Lorena Hardwick, and legal counsel Ricardo Gilmore. Commissioners Parker Homans, Sul Hemani, and Billi Johnson-Griffin were not present.
The Chair began by asking everyone for a moment of silent prayer and/or personal meditation; those in attendance were also asked to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance; recital of the agency's mission statement followed.
II. Minutes
A motion to approve the Minutes of the regular Board meeting of November 16, 2022 was made by Commissioner Dachepalli and seconded by Commissioner Salter Liggins:
Commissioner Hardwick - Present
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
III. Public Forum (3 minutes limit allotted per speaker)
- None to come before this forum.
IV. Presentations
- FY2022 Independent Audit
Sr. VP/CFO Ms. Susi Begazo-McGourty introduced Berman Hopkins, CPAs & Associates, LLP Partners Brian Nemeroff and Laura Ann Pray, and Sr. Audit Manager Becky Sabetsky. Mr. Nemeroff led the audit presentation and drew attention to a finding, clarifying that it was insignificant. This finding had nothing to do with the Accounting Department, rather it had to do with hiring, staffing and recruitment.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bemetra Salter-Liggins to approve the Audit and was seconded by Commissioner Lorena Hardwick:
Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
- Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plan
(Commissioners broke from the regular meeting for a public hearing next)
Real Estate Development Director Mr. David Iloanya announced that this was the agency's second public meeting and first in front of the Board. He added that before the proposal is submitted to HUD, a resolution will be made requesting Board approval. Director Margaret Jones was on hand to answer questions from the Board.
(Commissioners reconvened to continue with the regular meeting)
V. Employees of the Month
- Administration - Patricia Soares
- Properties - Alphonso Brown
VI. Special Recognition (Geraldine Barnes Award)
- Recipient - Irma Amador Acosta
VII. Resolutions
Sr. VP/COO, Mr. Leroy Moore presented resolution 2022-4250, this is a resolution that was tabled in November 2022.
- 2022-4250: Resolution authorizing the President/CEO and/or Chief Operating Officer of the housing authority of the city of Tampa, Florida to execute closing documents for the sale of parcels T7 and T8, West River, located in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida.
A motion was made by Commissioner Dachepalli and seconded by Commissioner Salter Liggins:
Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
RED Director Mr. Iloanya presented resolution 2023-4256.
- 2023-4256: Authorizing the President/CEO to submit the FY2023 public housing agency plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A motion was made by Commissioner Dachepalli and seconded by Commissioner Salter Liggins:
Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Asset Management Sr. Asset Manager Mr. Walter (Todd) Guy presented resolution 2023-4257.
- 2023-4257: A resolution approving the revised utility allowance schedules for use in the tax credit properties.
A motion was made by Commissioner Salter Liggins and seconded by Commissioner Hardwick:
Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Director Margaret Jones presented resolution 2023-4258.
- 2023-4258: A resolution approving the selection of Invictus, Archway and CDC for project based vouchers.
A motion was made by Commissioner Hardwick and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli:
Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
COO, Mr. Leroy Moore presented resolution 2022-4259.
- 2023-4259 Leroy Moore: Resolutions approving casa bel mar equity, construction, and permanent loans.
A motion was made by Commissioner Salter Liggins and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli:
Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
VIII. President/CEO's Report
Finance and Related Entities
Sr. VP/CFO, Ms. Susi Begazo-McGourty stated that her department had done a Pay Comparison Research and were attempting to implement during this year's budget. She added that her department has done the audit and was currently working on the budget. The CFO also mentioned that Belmont III will be the subject of an upcoming RAD adaptation.
The agency has been collaborating for about a year for the purchase of Oaks at Riverview, the CFO stated that her staff was attempting to get its vendors and mortgage paid. RED Director Mr. Iloanya was already working on several offline units, the property should be available for purchase in the following six months.
Operations and Real Estate Development
Sr. VP/COO Mr. Leroy Moore began his updates with the EFFORTS program (Educational Funding for our Residents to Succeed) this was a privately sponsored resident scholarship program funded by THA staff. The Program had 140 employees signed up and currently staff donations amounted to just over $14,000 overall.
Thus far four students had received $3,000 checks to help them get through their first year of college, THA will continue to support these students.
Although EFFORTS was supposed to be 100% staff supported, THA recently received a request from one of its vendors to help support the EFFORT program by $10,000.
The COO proceeded with ENCORE! updates, he stated that Lots 12 and 5 should be closing this month. Lot 10 was anticipated to close in March and said that the two buyers had met and inquired as to whether THA would permit them to resolve their own issues; we had given them permission to do so, and they had reached an understanding where they had negotiated that Lot 10 will be allowed to also offer a grocer, which would mean that there could be two grocers at ENCORE!
The museum at ENCORE! had a verbal agreement from the Tampa Bay History Center regarding cooperation with THA, discussions had been ongoing for about a year. The documentary that was made about the creation of the Mary McLeoud Bethune Statue, installed last year at the US Capitol in Statuary Hall, will be the ENCORE! museum's first screened event, scheduled for March 30, organized in collaboration with the Tampa Bay History Center.
THA secured a lottery position for funding the Canopy Phase II at West River, said the COO, which will eventually include about 200 units in total, with more planned, leaving just one phase needed to cover the entirety of West River for its residential portfolio.
The COO had recent conversations with HUD regarding changes at Robles Park Village that may affect the relocation plan, HUD had promised to provide him with remarks or approval shortly.
Lastly, the COO addressed The Oaks at Riverview, he stated that it will take until 2023 to stabilize operations and get funding for significant upgrades to the property.
The director of Human Resources Mr. Kenneth Christie, began his report with information regarding the observance and importance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, January 16.
Mr. Christie proceeded with his pandemic report, he stated that the systems and controls THA had put in place over the previous two years had brought the agency to safe and healthy status. The director also provided information regarding what he has learned about the XBB1.5, stressing that if an individual had not yet contracted COVID-19 or Omicron, he/she will likely contract XBB1.5 or become reinfected.
IX. Legal Matters
- None to come before this forum.
X. Unfinished Business
- None to come before this forum.
XI. Notices and Updates
The Director of Community Affairs, Ms. Lilian Stringer, was present for her final THA board meeting before retiring after 32 years of service. In this special recognition, Mr. Moore spoke highly of Ms. Stringer before announcing that the executive team was honoring Ms. Stringer at a luncheon scheduled for January 23. Thoughtful and kind comments were also made by President/CEO Mr. Jerome Ryans before posing for pictures.
XII. New Business
- None to come before this forum.
XIII. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before this Board, the Chair declared this meeting of the THA Board of Commissioners adjourned at 10:27 a.m.
Approved this 15th day of February 2023.
